This message was sent to all students and University faculty and staff.

The arrival of a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccination has created a new sense of hope in the midst of a deeply concerning surge of the virus in North Carolina and across the country. The distribution process, however, will take many months and is determined by the state government. While health care workers will continue to receive priority, we expect that most members of the University community will not be eligible to receive the vaccine until spring 2021 or later.

The initial recipients of the vaccine at Duke will be approximately 4,000 healthcare workers in Phase 1a who are at risk of prolonged exposure to COVID-19 patients and researchers who are working in labs that handle the COVID-19 virus. Last week, 1,100 of those individuals received the vaccine at Duke. That process is expected to continue through early January and will then expand to include healthcare workers at risk of exposure to COVID due to their assigned duties in hospitals and clinics. More than 8,000 of these appointments have already been scheduled. 

The State of North Carolina will determine the completion of the initial phase and authorize expanded access to the vaccine. Duke experts are working closely with the state on this process and are preparing the necessary protocols to expand vaccination to other groups once approved. All recipients of the vaccine are required to register through the state’s vaccine management system before an appointment can be scheduled with a healthcare provider for vaccination. This helps ensure individuals meet the eligibility criteria and allows for equitable and efficient distribution.

Because we know the distribution of the vaccine across our community will take time, we urge you to take every precaution to keep yourself and others safe, especially during the holiday season. This includes wearing a mask, maintaining 6 feet of distance, and avoiding gatherings with others who do not live in your home. Please stay vigilant and continue to protect yourself, your family and the Duke community.

More information about vaccine distribution for the Duke community, including answers to frequently asked questions, can be found on the Duke COVID-19 Vaccine website. Thank you for your ongoing support and patience as we enter this hopeful new stage.

Sincerely,

Kyle Cavanaugh
Vice President, Administration

Carol Epling, MD, MSPH
Director, Employee Occupational Health and Wellness

Gail Shulby, RN, MA, CPPS
Chief of Staff to the Executive Vice President, Duke Health

Cameron R. Wolfe, MBBS (Hons), MPH, FIDSA
Associate Professor of Medicine, Infectious Diseases, Duke Health

Co-Leaders of the Duke COVID Vaccination Work Group